Worthy S» -- Wee the subscribed p^sent our best respects to you hopeing of & much Desireing your good health &c: Wee re^*^ your order or warrant for y^ makeing up and sending to you the estimate or waluation of our towne And at length with care and trouble wee have effected it: And it exactly amounts to twelve thousand five hundred and fourty one poundes xvi' viii^: Wee have dilligently aecompted every mans estate vp, & that is the just totall according to our best inspection ; Wee herein send you not the pticulers, for wee conceive that would h%e but lost labour to vs, and noe advantage, nor more satisfaction, but rather a cumber to you: And therefore according to our former maner to y^ High Shereife wee Send you the Sume in gross, which wee hope will be Sufficient, & fully answer your expectation: Wee crave yo'" favour & pdon that wee could not procure it Sooner into your hand ; But hope it will come So Seasonably, that wee haveing your Order by the bearer ourloveing friend and much respected, Justice Topping at his returne, may make paym* : in the most Suitable maner wee can to the Cuiitries

LONG ISLAND. 457

occations ; But come is but Scarce with most of y^ Inhabitants & wee desire that Specie may not bee enjoyned in your warrant. S"" wee have presumed to write to the Govern^" respecting our estimate, and therein what we have Sett y^ horse-kinde at, & have made request to him touching that Subject. If his hon^ bee not well pleased. Wee desire yo^" worPP: to bee Instrmnentall as you can to excuse our goeing beside that old law or order (which wee can not but thinke now to follow is excessive hard and oppressive) that rates horses and mares one with another at 12'^ a peece.